DAHLONEGA - The University of North Georgia softball team will welcome defending NCAA Division I national champion Florida State University for a fall exhibition today with first pitch scheduled for 12 noon at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.
It will mark the second trip to Dahlonega in four years for the Seminoles. Florida State defeated Washington in June for its national title. UNG won the Division II national championship in 2015 and went 62-4 while making it back to the eight-team Division II Softball Championship in 2018.
UNG coach Mike Davenport built a challenging fall exhibition schedule that included a road matchup with Southeastern Conference power Auburn University and a game with Valdosta State University in Auburn, Alabama, both of which were earlier this month.
"Any time you can help grow the game with their program and what we've been able to accomplish at the Division II level as well, it should good be a good day for softball fans," Davenport said.
Florida State assistant coach Travis Wilson was an assistant to Davenport when the pair mentored the United States Specialty Sports Association Pride team in The National Pro Fastpitch League during summer 2015. That helped make the way for a fall 2015 meeting between the teams in Dahlonega, a trip that impressed Florida State head coach Lonni Alameda.
"She just enjoyed being up here and the environment here," Davenport said. "We knew we wanted to get them back if they were able to."
Admission to the game will be free.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/11/730798/ung-softball-hosts-ncaa-champ-fsu-today